United Nations' Chief To Meet With Venezuela's Foreign Minister Over Protests

Posted:
03/02/2014 11:06 am EST
Updated:
03/02/2014 11:06 am EST

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua speaks during a press conference at the Venezuelan embassy in Brasilia, on February 28, 2014. Jaua is visiting countries members of the South American trade bloc Mercosur -- which includes Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, and, since 2012, Venezuela -- and which have recently issued statements expressing concern over the unrest in Venezuela, rejecting violence, and calling for a peaceful resolution to the country's political crisis. AFP PHOTO / Evari | EVARISTO SA via Getty Images

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet Monday in Geneva with Venezuela's foreign minister, who also will speak to the U.N. Human Rights Council about the recent weeks of violent student-led protests in his country.

Venezuela's U.N. ambassador, Jorge Valero, told Venezuelan radio station Noticias 24 on Saturday that Ban had invited Jaua to meet.

"It will be an opportunity for the foreign minister to explain to the secretary-general of the U.N. how this government has been advancing the peace process and what measures are being taken so that Venezuela recovers from these disturbances, from these violent acts," he said.

Valero also said Jaua would explain to the Human Rights Council his government's efforts to "promote dialogue" to end the unrest.

The U.N. human rights chief called Friday for the Venezuelan government to respect peaceful assemblies and expressed concern about the use of excessive force against protesters.

One of the opposition's highest profile leaders, former Venezuelan presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, tweeted Saturday: "We also ask to be allowed to report on the actual situation, NO official bias!"

The opposition refuses to open a dialogue until President Nicolas Maduro releases protesters from jail and stops harsh crackdowns on protests.

Student Bassil DaCosta is helped during an opposition demo against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on February 12, 2014. DaCosta and a unidentified member of the pro-government group Juan Montoya were shot dead. AFP PHOTO / Manaure Quintero (Photo credit should read MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP/Getty Images)

People help a man injured during an opposition demonstration against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on February 12, 2014. Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle fired into a crowd of anti-government protesters, wounding at least two people. AFP PHOTO / JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

A protester helps an injured man during an opposition demo against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on February 12, 2014. Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle fired into a crowd of anti-government protesters, wounding at least two people. AFP PHOTO / JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

Students demonstrate against the death of a student who was killed on the eve during a protest against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, on February 13, 2014. Venezuela's government on Thursday called for its supporters to rally against what it called fascism, a day after three people died and dozens were injured in violence at anti-government protests. Thousands demonstrated on Wednesday against rampant crime, inflation and shortages of basic goods in the biggest challenge to President Nicolas Maduro since he took over from the late Hugo Chavez last year. The protests ended with three people shot to death -- a pro-government demonstrator and two student opposition protesters. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

Relatives, friends and pro-government supporters carry the coffin of Juan Montoya, known as 'Juancho' who was one of the three killed during the recent protest in Caracas, on February 13, 2014. Venezuela's government on Thursday called for its supporters to rally against what it called fascism, a day after three people died and dozens were injured in violence at anti-government protests. Thousands demonstrated on Wednesday against rampant crime, inflation and shortages of basic goods in the biggest challenge to President Nicolas Maduro since he took over from the late Hugo Chavez last year. The protests ended with three people shot to death -- a pro-government demonstrator and two student opposition protesters. AFP PHOTO/LEO RAMIREZ (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Students clash with the riot police as they protest against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on February 14, 2014. Students opposed to Venezuela's government returned to the streets on Friday to protest against Maduro after a week of violence that saw three people killed at political rallies. The tension that surrounds the demonstrations in Caracas was underscored by a report from Twitter that the government has blocked pictures of the unrest from being shared between users on the social messaging service. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

An anti-government student holding a tore Venezuelan flag stands in front of a water cannon during a protest in Caracas on February 15, 2014. Supporters and opponents of Venezuela's leftist government staged dueling rallies in Caracas and other cities in the latest public displays of discontent at soaring inflation and basic goods shortages. AFP PHOTO/ JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

Anti-government students holding a protest stand in front of National Guard members, in Caracas on February 16, 2014. Opposition and pro-government demonstrators were gathered at noon on Saturday in different places of Caracas and other Venezuelan localities in the fourth consecutive day of protests that have already left three dead. AFP PHOTO / JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

Students give flowers to National Police members during an anti-government protest in Caracas on February 17, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday accused Washington of plotting with anti-government protesters and expelled three US diplomats in retaliation. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

Leopoldo Lopez (C), an ardent opponent of Venezuela's socialist government facing an arrest warrant after President Nicolas Maduro ordered his arrest on charges of homicide and inciting violence, is escorted by the national guard into a vehicle after he turned himself in, during a demonstration in Caracas, on February 18, 2014. Fugitive Venezuelan opposition leader Lopez, blamed by Maduro for violent clashes that left three people dead last week, appeared at an anti-government rally in eastern Caracas and quickly surrendered to the National Guard after delivering a brief speech. AFP PHOTO / CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ (Photo credit should read CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Leopoldo Lopez, an ardent opponent of Venezuela's socialist government facing an arrest warrant after President Nicolas Maduro ordered his arrest on charges of homicide and inciting violence, kisses his wife Lilian Tintori, during a demonstration before turning himself in to authorities, in Caracas on February 18, 2014. Fugitive Venezuelan opposition leader Lopez, blamed by Maduro for violent clashes that left three people dead last week, appeared at an anti-government rally in eastern Caracas and quickly surrendered to the National Guard after delivering a brief speech. AFP PHOTO / LEO RAMIREZ (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

A motorcyclist carries Venezuelan model Genesis Carmona, injured during an anti-government protest in Valencia on February 18, 2014. The 21-year-old model died on February 19, 2014 after suffering a gunshot wound to the head in the protest march, a hospital source told AFP. AFP PHOTO /MAURICIO CENTENO (Photo credit should read MAURICIO CENTENO/AFP/Getty Images)

Supporters of Leopoldo Lopez, an ardent opponent of Venezuela's socialist government facing an arrest warrant after President Nicolas Maduro ordered his arrest on charges of homicide and inciting violence, light fires at the streets, on February 18, 2014, in Caracas. Fugitive Venezuelan opposition leader Lopez, blamed by Maduro for violent clashes that left three people dead last week, appeared at an anti-government rally in eastern Caracas and quickly surrendered to the National Guard after delivering a brief speech. AFP PHOTO/Raul ARBOLEDA (Photo credit should read RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Supporters of Leopoldo Lopez, an ardent opponent of Venezuela's socialist government facing an arrest warrant after President Nicolas Maduro ordered his arrest on charges of homicide and inciting violence, light fires at the streets, on February 18, 2014, in Caracas. Fugitive Venezuelan opposition leader Lopez, blamed by Maduro for violent clashes that left three people dead last week, appeared at an anti-government rally in eastern Caracas and quickly surrendered to the National Guard after delivering a brief speech. AFP PHOTO/Raul ARBOLEDA (Photo credit should read RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Protesters confront riot policemen during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Leo Ramirez (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Protesters confront riot policemen during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Leo Ramirez (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Protesters confront riot policemen during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Leo Ramirez (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Protesters confront riot policemen during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Leo Ramirez (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

A protestor throws stones during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Raul Arboleda (Photo credit should read RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)

A protestor confronts riot policemen during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Leo Ramirez (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Protestors light fires during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Leo Ramirez (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Protestors confront riot policemen during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO / Leo Ramirez (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

A Venezuelan anti-government student throws stones to riot police during a protest, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Four people have been killed in violence linked to the protests since last week, with the latest fatality a 21-year-old woman who died earlier today after suffering a gunshot wound to the head during a march in the northern city of Valencia. AFP PHOTO / JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)

Students hide in a building during an anti-government demo, in Caracas on February 19, 2014. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over what protesters say is rampant crime, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems. AFP PHOTO/Raul ARBOLEDA (Photo credit should read RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)

A child holds a placard among other Venezuelan protesters in opposition of the Venezuelan government in front of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, February 19, 2014. The oil market was buoyed Wednesday by hopes of strong heating fuel demand in the winter-struck United States, alongside simmering tensions in Africa and Venezuela. AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

"This young protester just lost an eye #venezuela #sosvenezuela"
On Wednesday, Fusion anchor Mariana Atencio posted a video on Instagram of a student who had been injured during protests.

An anti-government protester holds up a national flag during a demonstration in the Altamira neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, on February 19, 2014. (Photo by Cristian Hernandez/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)